The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, hernia, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left leg sciatic nerve damage, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks service connection for hemorrhoids. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. He also testified about having bloody stools in service. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his hemorrhoids and military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for a hernia. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. He also testified about experiencing symptoms related to hemorrhoids such as bloody stools since discharge from service. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his hernia and military service.,The Veteran seeks service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks service connection for left leg sciatic nerve damage, which he contends is related to his lumbar spine disability. No opinion was provided regarding the relationship between his left leg sciatic nerve damage and military service or his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran seeks a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. VA treatment records document current treatment for this condition. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.,The Veteran seeks TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. No opinion was provided regarding the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.
The deciding factor: Additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to military service or secondary to other conditions.,No medical opinion could be provided due to lack of relevant VA treatment records for hemorrhoids and hernia.,No medical opinion was provided regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hernia and his lumbar spine disability.,The Board needs additional evidence to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is related to military service or secondary to other conditions.,Additional development is needed to assess whether the Veteran's left leg sciatic nerve damage is related to his lumbar spine disability.,VA treatment records are lacking for bilateral hearing loss, and a VA examination is needed to determine its current severity.,The Board needs additional evidence to determine if the Veteran's TDIU claim should be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, hernia, acquired psychiatric disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2016
- Citation
- 1603339
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1603339.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for miscarriage, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right elbow disability due to insufficient examination opinions and incomplete service history verification.
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